I have a 2008 Ford Ranger with std cab and 2.3 liter engine with 10K miles on it. The problem is the rough, jerky or stiff ride on ordinary paved road. I have replaced the 4 shocks with Monroematic but didn't do much to help. Any suggestions from out there what I should try. I suspect the suspension system is designed for heavy duty usage which makes the ride uncomfortable when not loaded. Thanks.

do you have T-bars?

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(SOLD) 2003 Ranger 4.0L V6 FX4
2001 F150 Supercrew Triton V8 (DD)
2008 Fusion 3.0L SEL V6 (my baby)
1992 Taurus SHO MTX (my toy-almost Supercharged)
2004 Nissan Murano SL AWD (Wife's car)

My truck has cil springs in the front.

Not to be a dick, but it is a truck.

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2001 Extended cab Edge, 4x4, 4.0, 4.10 gears, 3" PA body lift, Heartthrob dual exhaust, Roush Thunderbolt signal mirrors, 8000k hid head/foglights, Mountaineer leather buckets, Xplorer shorty console, Alpine 9856 receiver, 10" type r sub in ported box, air box mod, throttle cable mod, Rancho R5000 shox, Scangauge II, plus many other things...

ok? what does it being a truck have to do with it being a shitty ride. my dads avalanche rides like a caddy

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2001 XLT 4x4 V6 4.0L auto
SAS'd D44 and 8.8. dual lockers, 38s, 12 bolt h1's, some other odds and ends

Well I'm happy for your dad. (Now I'm being a dick).

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2001 Extended cab Edge, 4x4, 4.0, 4.10 gears, 3" PA body lift, Heartthrob dual exhaust, Roush Thunderbolt signal mirrors, 8000k hid head/foglights, Mountaineer leather buckets, Xplorer shorty console, Alpine 9856 receiver, 10" type r sub in ported box, air box mod, throttle cable mod, Rancho R5000 shox, Scangauge II, plus many other things...

haha, i hate driving his truck. for one its a chevy, and for 2 it rides like a caddy lol

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2001 XLT 4x4 V6 4.0L auto
SAS'd D44 and 8.8. dual lockers, 38s, 12 bolt h1's, some other odds and ends

Your ranger is a truck, the avalanche is a quasi truck. It was designed to ride like a car.

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'20 Ranger Lariat FX4 Oxford White

Yeah, it's the heavy duty suspension that makes it ride rough. It's also what makes it able to work twice as hard as other trucks in it's class.

If you don't plan on doing work with your truck, there are some things you can do to make it ride better, but it will take away it's ability to carry heavy loads, and will lower it's ride height.

For smooth(er) ride, I recommend Roush 2.3l 2" drop coils and removing one leaf from the rear spring pack. The Roush springs are a dual rate spring, so the help smooth out the smaller bumps up front. And removing the shortest spring (not the anti-inversion leaf) in the rear pack will lower the spring rate in the rear to allow it to absorb the bumps as well. This will lower the truck approx 1.5" in front and 2" in rear on a 2.3 D-tech reg cab truck, and modifying the rear springs will reduce the rear load capacity, but the ride will be better.

So the question is, do you have a truck for the look of a truck, or because you need the capability. Are you willing to live with a "bouncy" truck like ride for it's abilities, or would you rather have it ride nice. If you want both, you could always do as I suggested above, and then add overload air bags to the rear for load carrying capacity on demand.

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I take it you've never owned or ridden in a ford truck before? Their notorious for being stiff and have a rough ride. Johns got some good suggestions as to softening the ride, but I'd take the stiff ride over lowering the truck and not being able to haul anything. I will say simply upgrading to some high quality shocks such as bilsteins helped with the ride in mine, its still not a caddy but I'm ok with that.

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2003 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0L Flexfuel V6

Underdrive crank pulley
15x8 Procomp Xtreme Alloy 7069
31x10.5x15 Dick Cepek Radial FC II
Cherry Bomb Extreme

Or do the full size mod.

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2001 Extended cab Edge, 4x4, 4.0, 4.10 gears, 3" PA body lift, Heartthrob dual exhaust, Roush Thunderbolt signal mirrors, 8000k hid head/foglights, Mountaineer leather buckets, Xplorer shorty console, Alpine 9856 receiver, 10" type r sub in ported box, air box mod, throttle cable mod, Rancho R5000 shox, Scangauge II, plus many other things...

It's just the nature of the beast. Ford trucks always have a rougher ride. Chevy's are usually softer, except the HD's. Thats why test driving is an important step before buying. If you can't stand the rough ride, sell it and buy a Chevy. Doing any mods to the springs will most likely void the warranty.

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2003 Ranger FX4 level II. 3" BL, 33x12.50 GT Radial Mud Claws, Custom front and rear bumpers with winch hookups, custom flatbed, with hi-lift, and full size spare mount, 12,000 lb winch mounted under bed, Electric fan, and of course a flowmaster.